Loose-leap book



Feb. 3, 1931. c. D. TRUSSELL 1,790,773

LOOSE LEAF BOOK Filed June 8, 1927 Fig 5.

INVENTOR By Attorneys,

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE D. TRU SSELL, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TRUSSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LOOSE-LEAF BOOK Application filed June a, 1927. Serial No. 197,284.

This invention relates to temporary binders of the loose-leaf book type, in which the sheets or leaves are impaled on hooks or prongs forming half rings which are mounted on any suitable support extending along the back of the book, whereby the rings are held closed by spring pressure, and when opened for inserting or taking out leaves, are held in such open position. The present invention has no reference to the particular binding means for engaging the leaves or sheets, but relates to the construction of the cover of the book and to the means for covering the hook or prong-supporting means whereby to make a neat finish. Such covering means commonly consists of an inner plate overlying the hook or prong-supporting devices so as to conceal them from view when the book is open, and also of end plates for concealing the supporting means when the book is viewed from either end.

According to the present invention the back and sides of the cover are formed of one piece or sheet of leather or equivalent material which is grooved at the junction of the back and sides to render it flexible, and the cover back and sides are strongly hinged together by metal hinge plates consisting of a convex middle plate. conforming to the inner side of the curved back of the book and having marginal eyes united by pintles to alternating eyes formed on lateral plates constituting the wings of the hinge, and which are embedded in, or otherwise securely attached to, the leather sides of the book. The grooves in the leather receive the hinge eyes when the book is closed.

The cover plate concealing the metallic hook or ring-supporting means is of the usual convex form having marginal clinging engagement with the other metallic elements, and is turned in at its ends, which are slitted, and their slitted edges abut or overlap one another, thus rendering the turned-in ends somewhat yielding and flexible, so that they may give as the cover plate adapts itself to the movements of the hook-carrying means.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a transverse section of the book, showing it partly open.

Fig. 2 is an inner side view of the leather cover.

Kg. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the metal hinge plates.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the cover and metal hinge plates united, and with the inner spring plate fastened in place. I

F ig. 5 is a transverse section in the same plane as Fig. 1, showing the parts in the positions in which the metal hinge plates and leather cover are brought together.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the cover plate as punched out fiat.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the cover plate after being bent to shape.

Fig. 8 'is a fragmentary longitudinal section on the line 88 in Fig. 1, through one end of the book.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section corresponding to the right-hand portion of Fig. 1 and showing a slight modification.

Referring to the drawings, A designates, as a whole, the looseleaf binding means commonly constructed of two hooks a a in the form of half rings which are mounted on hook plates 1) 6 having a rocking engagement at their inner meeting edges and confined at their outer edges within the flanges of a spring back plate 0, all of which is a common and usual construction, and may be substituted by any other known constructions for the purpose.

B is the cover, which consists of a single sheet of leather C (or similar material) and metal hinge plates D. The middle portion of the leather forms a rounded book back d, while its outer portion forms the cover sides 6 e. The metal hinge plates D consist of a curved or convex middle plate f and two outer plates or hinge wings g 9. These three plates are united by hinge eyes it at their junction, the alternate eyes formed by bending the sheet metal according to the usual hinge construction being connected by a pintle or hinge pin 2'. The hinge eyes it have a thickness some three or four times that of the sheet metal of the plates 7 g, and this thickness is housed within the thickness of the leather cover byv forming the'latter with grooves k k on its inner side extending from end to end of the book, or nearly so, as shown in Fig. 2. The metal plates D are preferably somewhat shorter than the length of the book cover. According to the preferred construction shown, the hinge Wings 9 g are housed within the thickness of the leather sides e e. This is accomplished by slitting the leather to form pockets Z Z (Fig. 5), the outline of these pockets being indicated by the dotted line Z in Fi 2. These pockets extend from the grooves k outwardly, or a distance aproximately equal to the width of the hinge Wings 9. To unite the leather and metal elements of the cover, these portions are bent backwardly as shown in Fig. 5, the leather part being suitably suported', and the metal plates D are then thrust y a parallel motion (downward in Fig. 5) into the pockets Z. When fully seated therein, the book cover may be turned back to its normal shape, and in this position themiddle leaves cannot escape from the pockets. It is desirable, however, to more firmly secure the leaves 9 in the pockets, and for this purpose any suitable connection may be supplied. As

.one example, the metal plates 9 may be punched with holes m m and cement applied within the pockets, whereby the leather on opposite sides of these holes may be brought into contact by pressure and the opposite leather surfaces be thus cemented together. Another simple expedient is to form the wings g with slitted portions p'formin ears which, after the metal plates are in p ace, may be turned back as shown at p in Fig. 1, and clinched down upon the leather. For this purpose it is necessary to form the leather with a hole through which the ears p may be reached to turn them backward, and for giving a good appearance it is preferable to fill or conceal these holes. For this purpose the leather may be slitted through the inner side, forming ears 9, so that this portion of the leather may be turned back to get access to the metal ears p, and while turning these up through the leather hole and bending them back on the inner face of the leather and clinching them down; after which the leather ears q may be turned down again to their original position and cemented in place, which makes a joint that is practically imperceptible. The metal ears 1?, when clinched down, partly embed themselves in the leather; and

i if the punching is carefully made, so that no bur will appear, the clinched down ears of metal 77 p are scarcely perceptible. Fig. 4 shows the parts when thus united.

The middle plate 7 of the hinge plates has on its ends ears 7* 1' (shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1) which serve the usual function of connecting the inner back plate 0 of the loose-leaf binding devices A in place. This plate c, which is shown in Fig. 4

without the other parts of the loose-leaf bind-.

ing mechanism, has the usual notches r" at its ends, into which the ears r enter before they are turned down, and when these-ears are turned or clinched downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, they firmly bind the innerlate a to the middle plate 7" of the hinge mem ers.

The rooves k is in the leather not only impart exibility to the 'leather between the back and sides adjacent thehin es and serve for receiving the thickness of t e hm but also assist in the assembling of the hinge plates and leather cover by affording an unobstructed portion of the leather when bent back as shown in Fig. 5, for permitting the passage into the pockets Z of the hinge Wings 9.

The loose-leaf binder mechanism whereby the half rings or hooks a a are su ported and tensioned, is covered and concealed as usual by means of a cover plate E (Fig. 1) which commonly is of the convex cross-section shown in that figure, with inturned flanges embracing the flanged edges of the sprmg plate a. This cover plate is commonly notched at s s (Fig. 6) to permit the assage of the hooks a a and afiord room or the movement of the latter in opening and closing. It is important for affording a good finish, to close the ends of the structure so that the internal mechanism may be wholly concealed. This function has been most commonly accomplished heretofore by the provision of separate ca plates applied to the ends. According to t e present invention the 'plate E is rolonged at the ends, as shown in Fig. 6, by orming convex end wings t t, and these are turned downward at each end in the manner shown in Fig. 7. The slit at between the wings t t allows them as they are turned down to yield to the curved'top outline, and they are probably brought into slightly different planes, so that one stands behind the other, as shown in Fig. 7. Thus they may have a slight overlapping portion to either side of the edges to. When the cover plate E embraces the spring plate 0 as shown in Fig. 1, it necessarily has to participate in the slight flexure of the spring plate as the prong lates b b (or other equivalent substitutes) movements of the hooks; this would be impossible if the plate E were turned down at the ends without being slitted at u, but because of this slitting and the formation of two end wings t If, these, where they overlap, may slide slightly on each other and thereby accommodate themselves to the varying convexity of the plate E as it yields to the movements of the plate 0. Thus a much neater and more attractive end finish is provided than is afiorded by the separate end caps generally heretofore used. A further feature of this end finish is afforded by the slight inturning or fianging of the wings t t on their outer convex margins, these inturned porare moved during the opening and closing tions being best shown at o in Fig. 8. These flanges '0' present an exterior rounded edge,

thus avoidm any possibility of the raw edges of the metal eing seen or touched; they may underlie the ends of the spring plate 0, being somewhat beyond the ends of the hinge plate f. To permit the overlap of the ends t shown in Fig. 7 the ends of the metal blank (Fig. 6) are notched at w, so that the flanges w are interrupted for a width about equal to the overlap of the wings t shown in Fi 7.

The construction thus describe makes a very neat and sightly cover which, while presenting an exceptionally trim appearance, has all the desirable qualities of strength, durability, and easy flexure atthe hinge joint between the cover sides and back. The described construction may be varied somewhat within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, it is not strictly essential that the hinge wings g be embedded within pockets Z formed in the leather sides e, as they might be laid against the inner surface of the leather and fastened thereto by rivets, as shown in Fig. v9, or by any other convenient and suitable fastening. If desired, the metal hinge wings 9 might be concealed and covered by applying a lining fabric of leather, woven material, felt, etc, on the inner surface, as shown at w in Fig. 9. Nor is it essential that the end Wings 27, a overlap, as they might abut.

While leather is mentioned as the suitable and preferred material for the element B of the book cover, it is understood that any acceptable leather substitute might be used.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cover for loose-leaf books comprising a single layer of leather-like material forming integrally the exterior back and sides of the cover, and three metal plates hinged together, the middle plate coinciding with the back, and the outer wing plates fastened to the sides, and the cover material formed with inner grooves at the junction of the back and sides, affording flexible hinge portions to localize the flexure'of the material, and in position to be entered by the hinge eyes when the book is closed.

2. A cover according to claim 1, the middle back plate unattached to the cover back, whereby the latter is free to adjust itself as the book is opened.

3. A cover according to claim 1, the portion of cover material forming the cover sides divided to form pockets, and the wing plates entering such pockets.

4. A loose-leaf book having a cover the outer portion of which is formed of one piece of leather, and with metal hinge plates having eyes connected by pintles, comprising a middle plate coinciding with the back of the book, and outer wing plates attached to the cover sides, the portion of cover material forming the cover sides divided to form turned up from them, passing through openings in the inner leather layer and clinched down upon the latter to hold it to the plates. 7

6. A cover according to claim 4, the inner leather of said pockets having cut portions forming openings, the wing plates formed with ears which, when inserted, coincide with said openings, andwhich may be turned up and clinched down upon the leatherto fasten it to the plates, and the cut leather portions adapted to be cemented down to fill such openings.

7. A loose-leaf book having a cover the outer portion of which is formed of one piece of leather having inner grooves at the junction of the back and sides, and with metal hinge plates having eyes connected by pintles, comprising a middle plate coinciding with the back of the book, and, outer wing plates attached to the cover sides, the portion of cover material forming the 'cover sides split from said grooves outwardly to form pockets, and the wing plates entering such pockets.

8. A loose-leaf book comprising a book cover and binding mechanism fastened therein, with a cover plate for such binding mechanism having its ends slitted and turned down to form end flanges concealing such mechanism at the ends of the book.

9. A loose-leaf book comprising a book cover and binding mechanism fastened therein, comprising a spring plate adapted to yield to the movement of such mechanism, with a cover plate for such binding mechanism having marginal flanges embracing such spring plate and adapted to participate in the movements of the latter, having its ends slitted and turned down to form end flanges concealing such mechanism at the ends of the book.

10. A loose-leaf book according to claim 8, the end flanges of the cover plate overlapping one another at their slitted edges.

11. A loose-leaf book according to claim 8, the end flanges of the cover plate marginally inturned to form rim flanges.

12. A book cover comprising one layer of leather forming the exterior back and sides of the cover, its side portions split to form pockets, and metal plates hinged together, the middle plate coinciding with the back, and the outer wing plates fastened to the leather sides by being inserted in saidpockets.

13. A book cover comprising a single layer of leather forming integrally the back and sides of the cover, and metal plates hinged,

together, the leather formed with inner grooves coinciding with the hinge eyes in position to be entered by the hinge eyes when the book is closed.

14. A; cover according to claim 12 leather sides split to form pockets with closed ends, and the'outer wing plates entered into said pockets.

15. A cover for loose-leaf books comprising one piece of leather-like material forming the exterior back and sides of the cover, an i three metal plates hinged together, the middle late coinciding with the book back and the ateral wing plates attached to the sides of the cover, thev sides divided to form pockets with closed ends and the. wing plates confined in such pockets.

16. A cover accordin to claim 15, the wing plates inserted in t e pockets and having ears turned back and clinched down upon the ockets to confine the lates therein and hol the pocket flaps closed In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL.

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